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Hey all, just a quick query about some idea I had for modding a DA RW Nephilim Jetifghter.

I'm thinking mainly of sounds (I've found a tiny Bluetooth speaker that less than 3cm by 3cm by 3cm so should fit behind the cockpit) and maybe a cockpit light (but not convinced I want to go to the wiring effort).

Interested to hear everyone's thoughts.

EDIT - Whoops! Forgot to say you can choose multiple options, and if you think "none, leave it be" just post a reply. I forgot to add that option.

For those who need a reminder, this is what it looks like:

I wouldn't bother with sounds, personally. Probably wouldn't bother with lights either. If you must do something though, a cockpit light would be it for me.

That's really interesting KB, I did some LED modding of a Babylon 5 fighter (back in the day) and seemed to have it fixed in my head that the Jetfighter needed modding with electrics, but when coming close to building it I started to wonder whether LEDs had been "done" enough, would you get any real effect for the effort and sounds seemed like a laugh. (Imagine if you will a 33 year old man spinning around a room holding a Nephilim Jetfighter with sound effects simulating a battle ).

Finding the speaker was pretty difficult and it came after many failed attempts to find any sound kits that would fit. At the end though, as I was posting the poll (which was done to purely see what general thoughts were as a point of interest really), I had come to the same conclusion as you - there's not a lot of point.

I'm actually more inclined to use a larger Bluetooth speaker I have here embedded in some terrain to do the same job but for all models on the table. Throw in some noises of tank track grumblings and military radio chatter to a playlist on my phone and use that for the same effect with way less effort.

I'm well aware that we are all (mostly) middle aged men with serious problems which result in us playing with dollies, don't for a second think I am deluded about that

BUT, my point was really that putting sounds into the fighter would be cool for about 5 minutes, and would take considerably longer than that to do. Putting LEDs in the cockpit would be cool for much longer, and take less to achieve.

I mean, feel free to do it if you want matey, I am sure it'd be cool - I've pretty much been convinced to create some Angry Marine models, even though many people would roll their eyes at it, I can't help but think I can create something hilarious.

Now, as for your idea of a speaker in terrain which can be programmed a lot more - 10/10 idea dude. Achieves most of the same effects, takes a ton less effort, and is something you could actually achieve. A sound board app on a tablet or something for troop movement, vehicle movement, firing effects, and whatever else, would be easy to integrate without seeming _too_ ridiculously over the top.

KB - we're definitely on the same page. The initial planning for sound was taking ages and I hadn't even cut plastic from sprue yet!! You are so right, the joy would be fleeting. I think I feel the same about LEDs too so will be probavly building the Jetfighter I have as it comes. Heck! If I regret it later I'll just have to buy another one

Glad you like the terrain idea, feel free to give it a go anyone, I think I'm a way off having time to build it for now. Let me know if you do though, would love to see what people come up with.

 TP^DC Deputy Manager wrote:
(Imagine if you will a 33 year old man spinning around a room holding a Nephilim Jetfighter with sound effects simulating a battle ).

You mean it ISN'T normal? I'm 47 and still do it. :p

 chromedog wrote:

 TP^DC Deputy Manager wrote:
(Imagine if you will a 33 year old man spinning around a room holding a Nephilim Jetfighter with sound effects simulating a battle ).

You mean it ISN'T normal? I'm 47 and still do it. :p

My future is safe

I love the idea of sounds and engine lights!

May I ask where/what you did for the speaker? I have a mighty need to put one in my Baneblade, and was going to get a pre-recorded box.

Hey BC, sadly may have got your hopes up inappropriately. I haven't actually done sounds yet, it was more of a theoretical discussion while I was planning to build the Jetfighter soon (hoping for one of Paradigm's challenges).

The speaker I found was here - http://www.dx.com/p/bt-sts05-portable-2w-audio-bluetooth-speaker-w-micro-usb-anti-lost-self-timer-blue-363445#. In a Baneblade sounds cool.

Would have been quite fun to have it in there, but I will just look at doing a terrain speaker to cover all eventualities.

I wouldn't bother with that stuff mainly because I think LED's aren't that cool in models. Very rarely have I seen LED's in models and actually liked the results.

Sound, sound can be cool in some things, like maybe a piston powered aircraft or a diorama where you have some background atmospheric noise. I don't really think you could come up with a good sound for a Nephilim though.

 TP^DC Deputy Manager wrote:
Hey BC, sadly may have got your hopes up inappropriately. I haven't actually done sounds yet, it was more of a theoretical discussion while I was planning to build the Jetfighter soon (hoping for one of Paradigm's challenges).

The speaker I found was here - http://www.dx.com/p/bt-sts05-portable-2w-audio-bluetooth-speaker-w-micro-usb-anti-lost-self-timer-blue-363445#. In a Baneblade sounds cool.

Would have been quite fun to have it in there, but I will just look at doing a terrain speaker to cover all eventualities.

I'm in love:
. Magic: It also has bluetooth camera and mobile anti-lost

I can protect my Baneblade from lost, and make it play giddy up music? Sold.

 Buttery Commissar wrote:

 TP^DC Deputy Manager wrote:
Hey BC, sadly may have got your hopes up inappropriately. I haven't actually done sounds yet, it was more of a theoretical discussion while I was planning to build the Jetfighter soon (hoping for one of Paradigm's challenges).

The speaker I found was here - http://www.dx.com/p/bt-sts05-portable-2w-audio-bluetooth-speaker-w-micro-usb-anti-lost-self-timer-blue-363445#. In a Baneblade sounds cool.

Would have been quite fun to have it in there, but I will just look at doing a terrain speaker to cover all eventualities.

I'm in love:
. Magic: It also has bluetooth camera and mobile anti-lost

I can protect my Baneblade from lost, and make it play giddy up music? Sold.

I want to buy one just because it's so cheap too. I may put it in the Landraider I have "just because"

One thing that I've found works well, is to fog the LED slightly.

It softens the glow and takes it from a point source to a wider spread. Works better for engines that way.

I used fine grit sandpaper (240) to just remove the shinyness. The main "plasticy" part of an LED is pretty sturdy and you aren't taking that much off it.

Thanks chromedog, really helpful tip. I'll bear that in mind,

Very interesting results on the poll, engine glow was something I had little intention to do, yet everyone is voting for it.

I keep flicking between leaving the electrics be and lighting up the cockpit twice a day. If I do it I'm tempted to light up each screen on his control panel. The thing is I'm trying to decide if recasting a clear resin version would save a lot of hassle or cut out some clear plastic and glue them in to place of the existing screens.

Have decided to use clear black Tamiya paint on the screens first for realism and a green LED to simulate the glow of a HUD if I do it. Also tempted to clear black paint the canopy to increase the "black" of the model. Will need testing though.

Not sure if anyone checking by, but for those who are - this has been quite interesting. I come to a model and try to look at it (metaphorically) upside down and sideways through a crack in the wall. There is a potential in every model to make them unique and I love that about the hobby.

The Jetfighter to me is a sort of return to my childhood of airfix model planes which I had little interest in, but loved to go through the process of building and painting them. Then there were remote control cars - they were model kits that moved and lit up and made noises - oh yeah!

I am not in a place in my RL right now that I can make a Nephilim in to a great big fibre optic, Bluetooth speakered super-kit with bells on. So I am going to concentrate on doing as best a job as I can do just painting it and leave the electrics for another time.

I've liked seeing similar-minded people checking by and voting and it's cool to see everyone approaching the kit from a different perspective, which is why ultimately there is such a wealth of variety produced for every model out there. Thanks all for looking and answering the poll. There will be a Nephilim produced by me in the near future, but no LEDs in sight . . . . . but that terrain piece idea with the speaker, now that might happen